Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1948)

YOUR PROBLEMS ANSWERED BY CLAUDETTE COLBERT Dear Miss Colbert: My husband and I are both twenty-four years old, have been married four years and have a two-year-old son. Generally, we are happily married, but we have one serious trouble: My husband likes to be constantly “on the go.” Any afternoon or evening when he isn’t working he is off to the movies or to an amusement park with the boys or to the corner luncheon stand where the gang hangs out. He is happy when I can accompany him but when I can’t, because of the baby, he apparently enjoys himself anyhow. Not only is his “gadding about” expensive but it leaves me alone much of the time. Perhaps I am selfish. Of course, 1 expect him to have a certain amount of recreation, but for him to be away six or seven nights a week — once or twice with me and the rest of the time alone — is something to which I cannot reconcile myself. Am I being too unreasonable and demanding? (Mrs.) Dean J. From your description of your husband 1 am led to believe that he is a dynamic man, filled i vith energy, a zest for living, and a gift for comradeship. Also, he has not yet grown up. * / agree with you that it is unfair for him to leave you alone many nights a week. To complain about his behavior will only estrange him, so you should attempt to keep him near you by inviting his friends to your home at least one evening a week. On the spur of the moment you may say that this is impossible because of the presence of a young child in the household. Children adapt them-selves very quickly, however, to surroundings if in no way they are led to believe that they are being imposed upon. Claudette Colbert Dear Miss Colbert: I am twenty-one and live in a town of 20,000. I work in an office as bookkeeper and there are no other employees. 'I am no raving beauty, but so far have frightened no small children by my appearance. I came to this town four years ago when all tfie men were in the Army. Now that the boys are coming home wedding bells are ringing everywhere, but I don’t even have an occasional date. I have no trouble getting along with men after I have been introduced, but I simply don’t meet anyone. I live in an extremely small apartment where I cannot entertain. Consequently, I lead a dull life, going to movies alone or visiting married friends. I have been thinking of going to a larger town, but I don’t suppose the situation would be any better. Ellen L. First of all, I think a wise girl should go to church. If the first church she attends does not appear to have a congregation of young people she should try another, as it seems to me one of the functions of organized religion should consist of helping human beings to find and enjoy one another. Furthermore, in a town of 20,000 it would seem that there must be some nighttime educational facilities offered. Perhaps you could take up Spanish or commercial law. Surely, you will find men in those classes. JVo single girl who hopes to marry should work alone in an office. Try to find employment in some organization employing a large office force. The slate in which you are living, incidentally, is one in which the number of available men far outnumbers that of marriageable girls. Claudette Colbert Dear Miss Colbert: My problem is this: I have a sixteen-year-old daughter who is simply too popular. She isn’t beautiful, she doesn’t smoke or drink, she never forgets that she is a lady and in all important considerations she is a model daughter. However, she has the type of personality that causes everyone, both boys and girls, to flock around her like bees around a honey pot. However, I must admit that I am worried. My daughter is out practically every night, skating, going to beach parties, dancing or chatting at the home of some friend. She seldom returns until one-thirty or two o’clock in the morning, which I feel is entirely too late for a sixteen-year-old girl. I know the parents of most of her friends and they are nice people but indulgent. They actually do not feel that midnight during the week or two o’clock on Friday and Saturday nights is too late for children of sixteen to be out. I have considered taking her to a new community where she knows no one so that she won’t have three or four carloads of young people ( Continued on page 87) (PP holo/) l ay (ppashions d7n (Polor c/lari on (PPage 99 76